TRi_Line Carriers

Is Transx actually decent??

 

TransX has a lease OP program!?

Well... if someone can succeed at a program run by TransX, then it is possible anywhere I would think!(?)

 

I talked with Dave about two years ago. Not to go through their purchase program, but to look at putting on a couple of trucks with him. He wouldn't allow me to put more than one unit on, so that ended the conversation. He's polite, but doesn't want a o/o to grow. He also insisted the owner was the operator, thus not allowing me to operate another truck.

 

Ya... he is very polite. I'm skeptical about the program. I would like to interview at least three drivers that are well into the program before considering it. It would be better to own a truck I believe but I'm just interested in making more money.

If your other truck is just sitting doing nothing, you should let me borrow it for awhile

I'm not familiar with TransX but I had a very brief experience with Deck X which shares the terminal with Trans X in Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg and those are the most dangerous, unsafe terminals I have ever been at. For a big company, it wasn't very professional, IMO.

 

I'll never forget going through the Ontario/MB border years ago and having Transx drivers sit on my tail and pass me on a blind corner. I guess that's why I wondered if Transx had maybe changed their scary ways. Guess not.

 

Yea, deck x also has the program too. Pcfreak can give you the lowdown I'm sure. Seems like a pretty decent guy from interactions on the forum!

 

I find lease operation okay, although you're kept on a short leash. A lease to own contract with a particular company means, to me, you're forfeiting labour laws to be a very liable company driver.

Like a few people have said already, get your own used one and pick a contract... heck, pick a contract first and take it to the finance company with a letter of earnings from the company (they'll estimate your monthly income for the loan company). Loan officers will limit your truck price to a certain percentage of your projected income.

 

I'm content with being a company driver. I just need to find a good company with a good truck (and most importantly, good, fair pay).

It might have been premature for me to quit my last posting but a lot of people were quitting for reasons unknown to me.

Myself, I like to be a co-worker and team player; like I'm there for a purpose. Instead I was made to feel like a paid slave (or company b!+*#).

It was so impersonal there as well. When I called dispatch on a Monday morning, I would chat a little first to be polite, you know, like "how are you?" "how was your weekend?" "what's the weather like there...?" and so on, and I guess I caught them off guard because there was a pause, and then, "whaaa, huh, quit wasting time...!?"

Before arriving at reload terminals or lumber yards, I would locate and park at an open area like a truck stop with pavement, and pull my tarps there, weather permitting. I have been doing this for over a decade. On one of these occasions I told my dispatch that this is what I was doing; no big deal, right? So a month later I get called into the office and the managers are making a huge deal about this, even making me read a "warning" letter and signing it; so if I do it again it's reason for automatic dismissal!

What the meeting really was, was an opportunity for the power trippers to put me in my place and to sign something that might allow them to fire me without giving due notice (it was the coming close of my three month probationary period so the sword of Damocles was being positioned and this was my greatest fault if such a thing could be considered erroneous!(?)).

So, what I'm looking for is the polar opposite of this; and does a company exist where drivers are treated with respect; or at least as humans (and good pay to boot)? Or is this a pipe dream!?

 

Thanks, nate980; I'm going to send pcfreak a personal message and ask him how it's all going as soon as I can but you need to post at least seven times at this forum before you can send personal messages...

And this actually is my seventh post so I can ask him now!

 

Sorry I totally disagree. Yes it's better for any company to have O/O then company drivers for a lot of reasons. The reason it's better for a O/O to work for a company that helps a driver get into a truck are few but worth considering. This is why I choose Tri-line:
1) No money out of pocket with the option to walk away within the 1st year. If you find its not for you.
2) They paid empty miles at $0.05 more per mile than the company I was considering changing from company to Lease op was paying loaded miles.
3) The company I was with lease deal was just over $3000 but you had a choice of a 2013 Volvo or Freightliner. Tri-line was only a 2013 Prostar. $2400 a month. (No DEF) But not without its issues. Caused a few drivers to turn them in. I'm still driving mine. 719000 km's.
4) If I leased with the company I was with, I knew the miles were there but I would be competing with company trucks. Not at Tri-line.
5) Loaded mile starts at $1.34 plus fuel surcharge.
Is Tri-line perfect? No. There was 3 other drivers in orientation when I was going thru over 3 years ago. I'm the only one still here.
I've gotten home when I needed to be. If you work hard and keep your nose clean this company will bend over backwards fire you. Example. The turbo went on my truck at just under 200 000 miles. Warranty covered the engine rebuild as the turbo flew cap into the engine and it ran away. Long story short, I was down 3 weeks. Tri-line paid motel 1 week. Paid flight home when it was realized I would be down awhile. (Return flight) When I got back to the office they brought me in and shared with me that they decided to pay me based on my year. Meaning they took the last 12 months divided it for a 2 week pay period. I said Dave this is exactly what I didn't want to happen because I know once you get behind the 8 ball is very difficult to recover. Dave said, who said anything about paying it back. I've been trucking since 1982 I've never heard of this ever. In fact either has anyone I told. Tri-line said they have no problem doing this for people they want to keep. But also said it doesn't mean they will do it for me every time. Depending on circumstances. They also have no problem me telling anyone.
Anyway over the road trucking is demanding lifestyle and not for everyone. The one thing I've learned for sure is: Consistency. Doesn't exist in the Over the Road trucking world. BTW, a earlier post quoted $4800 a month take home. I've been doing much better than that but it's a good number to start at and don't forget your paying your own taxes. This is the biggest down fall for the unprepared.
Hope this helps be well.